Soapie lovers of Mzansi will be glad to know that they will be entertained by their favourites, until the end of lockdown, at the end of this month.
The SABC says it has enough episodes for all their major soapies, from Muvhango, Skeem Saam, Uzalo and Generations: The Legacy, to last until the end of this extended Lockdown.
However, the public broadcaster said it might be forced to play select repeats episodes for all major soapies, if the already extended lockdown, imposed by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week, was to be extended again.
As an option, the SABC plans to consider applying for special permissions for certain productions houses to be granted permits as essential service workers so that they can resume with production.
Production across all major soapies, Muvhango, Skeem Saam, Uzalo and Generations: The Legacy, were halted to help stop the spread of COVID-19 – currently terrorizing the global community.
The SABC has, since the start of the 21 day lockdown announced by government, flighted episodes from their reserves.
This was possible, because most productions work three months in advance, while others worked a month in advance to prepare for any eventuality.
But soapies fans were now beginning to worry about the sustainability of some of their preferred soapies because of the lockdown which has since been extended for further two weeks. Others believe that the reserves are now close to being depleted, meaning that they were soon to be subjected to old repeats of some soapies.
The SABC spokeswoman, Mmoni Seapolelo, said the public broadcaster had put strong measures in place to ensure that it delivers on its public service mandate of keeping the nation informed, and entertained during the lockdown period.
“The organisation has sufficient material on its content offering for soapies which will cover the duration of the lockdown period. The organisation has also ensured that there are measures in place to ensure business continuity during this period, should there be another extension.These measures include repeats of select popular soapies, crucial engagements with relevant stakeholders concerning the organisation’s delivery on the set local content quotas as well as possible essential service permission for certain productions.”
